ENERGY VALUES OF RATIONS FOR FARM ANIMALS. 



21 



To supply 14 therms requires 14 -f- 0.634 = 22.08 pounds of total feed, 

 consisting of 7.36 pounds of clover hay and 14.72 pounds of corn-and- 

 cob meal, or, in round numbers, 7^ pounds of hay and 15 pounds of 

 meal. 



This, of course, represents the average ration for the whole feeding 

 period. At the begnning the feed will naturally be lighter and 

 consist to a larger extent of hay, while the amount of feed, and 

 especially the proportion of grain, will be gradually increased until 

 toward the end of the feeding the animals are consuming all the 

 grain they will take, with only enough hay to insure the necessary 

 bulk and proper digestion. Naturally, too, the form in which the 

 corn is given will usually be varied in the course of the feeding. 



IMPROVEMENT OF A RATION. 



In the foregoing example it was assumed that the feeding stuffs to 

 be used had been decided upon and attention was directed simply to 

 the quantity required. Let us now take up the question from the 

 other end and see whether a study of the ration may not yield some 

 suggestion of possible improvement. 



According to the table on pages 11-13, clover hay and corn-and- 

 cob meal, respectively, contain in 100 pounds — 



Feed. 



Clover hay 



Corn-and-cob meal. 



Total dry 

 matter. 



Pounds. 

 87.1 

 89.6 



Digestible 

 protein. 



Pounds. 

 4.9 

 5.7 



Net energy 

 value. 



Therms. 

 38.68 

 75.80 



The 7 y% pounds of clover hay in the ration will evidently contain : 



87.1 X0.075=6.53 pounds of dry matter. 

 4.9 X0.075=0.37 pound of digestible protein. 

 38.68X0.075=2.90 therms of net energy value. 



A precisely similar computation for the corn-and-cob meal gives 

 the following results : 



89.6X0.15=13.44 pounds of dry matter. 

 5.7X0.15= 0.85 pound of digestible protein. 

 75.8X0.15=11.37 therms of net energy. 



Adding these amounts, we find that the total ration contains: 



Kind and amount of feed. 



Total dry 

 matter. 



Digestible 

 protein. 



Net .energy 

 value. 



Clover hay, 7J pounds 



Corn-and-cob meal, 15 pounds 



Total 



Pounds. 

 6.53 

 13.44 



Pounds. 

 0.37 

 .85 



Therms. 

 2.90 

 11.37 



19.97 



14.27 



